Chapter 162

Dai'er stood in the courtyard, gazing at that tall, ancient tree, her long silver hair drifting gently in the wind.

The tree's branches were thick and sturdy, its root system buried deep underground, looking as if it had been growing on this land for over a hundred years.

But Dai'er knew that this was her "Mother Ailan."

"Sister Lili, when will Mother Ailan be able to wake up?"

The little sea siren tilted her head, her large purple-blue eyes filled with longing and expectation.

She reached out her small hand, gently stroking the ancient tree's rough bark, just as Ailan used to stroke the top of her head with vines in the past.

Lilliya crouched down, wrapping her arms around the little sea siren's shoulders, feeling a moment of panic in her heart.

Although she had lived in the workshop for a period of time, she actually knew very little about the tree spirit's transformation process.

Luo En had only told her to take good care of Dai'er and that he would handle other matters, and as a student, she would not take the initiative to ask about these questions involving the other party's core secrets.

"Well..."

Lilliya weighed her words, her brain racing to find a suitable explanation.

She did not want to disappoint the little sea siren, but she also did not want to give an inaccurate promise:

"Sister Ailan needs enough time to complete her transformation, just like a butterfly needs to rest in its cocoon. But I believe she will return to keep you company very soon."

Just then, the laboratory door was pushed open, and Luo En walked out from inside.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his lab coat was stained with traces left by various materials.

"Master!"

Dai'er immediately turned toward Luo En, the expectation in her eyes becoming even more intense:

"When exactly will Mother Ailan be able to wake up? She has been like this for many days now, and I miss her so much."

Hearing the inquiry, Luo En came before the ancient tree, his brows slightly furrowed.

He extended his right hand, pressing his palm against the rough surface of the trunk, while simultaneously activating his "Extraordinary Identification" ability.

His spiritual power probed into the interior of the trunk like invisible tentacles, sensing the life state and energy flow within.

The energy flow inside the ancient tree presented an orderly spiral shape, indicating that the transformation process was stable and healthy.

Although the tree spirit's core consciousness was in a dormant state, her life force was more vigorous than ever before.

He could clearly perceive that ancient power within Ailan that was gradually being awakened, reshaping her entire existence bit by bit.

"Don't worry, Dai'er."

Luo En withdrew his hand, a rare, gentle smile appearing on his face:

"Ailan is undergoing an important transformation. According to my observations, her state is very stable; in two weeks at most, she will be able to return to our side in a brand-new form."

"Really?"

Dai'er's eyes lit up, and she hugged Luo En's leg tightly:

"I miss the fruit juice and petal candy Mother Ailan makes so much! Even though what Sister Lili makes is also delicious, the taste is different."

This sentence caused a flash of embarrassment to cross Lilliya's face, but she soon smiled; after all, children speak without inhibition.

Moreover, she also knew that her talent in gardening and plant-related matters was far inferior to Ailan's, especially those homemade flower and plant desserts.

Luo En gently stroked the little sea siren's silver hair, but his gaze remained on the ancient tree, his thoughts inevitably drifting back to half a month ago...

………………

It was another exhausting night, and he was conducting experiments on the energy isolation layer.

Having dozed off slightly while slumped over the lab bench, he prepared to rest for a moment before continuing the next round of testing.

The laboratory door was knocked on gently, and after the door opened, Luo En saw Ailan standing outside.

The tree spirit's vines swayed slightly with a hesitant rhythm, and there was a hint of unease between the branches and leaves.

"Ailan? Is there something the matter so late at night?"

He was somewhat surprised; the tree spirit had always known how to respect his work rhythm and rarely disturbed him during his experiments.

Ailan's leaves danced gently in the air, writing out a line of text:

"Master, I have an important matter I wish to request of you."

Sensing the tree spirit's unusual emotional fluctuations, Luo En stepped aside to let her enter the laboratory.

Under the cold light of the magic crystal lamp, Ailan, who was usually as docile and calm as a stagnant pool, was radiating an almost restless aura tonight.

Her vines were trembling slightly, and the edges of her leaves were even turning yellow—this was a physiological manifestation of extreme emotional fluctuation in a tree spirit.

"What happened?"

Luo En closed the door, a faint trace of concern flashing in his eyes, his heart already having some guesses.

One of Ailan's thick vines trembled slightly, as if hesitating, but soon, a line of resolute text appeared on her leaves:

"I want to request that Master perform bloodline modulation on me, just like you did for Dai'er."

Luo En did not feel particularly surprised; he had long since noticed Ailan's recent subtle changes.

Ever since Lilliya came to the workshop, many tasks that were originally Ailan's responsibility had gradually shifted into the hands of this human girl.

Although Ailan had never revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, anyone observant enough could discover her increasingly frequent time spent alone, as well as the complex looks she occasionally cast toward Lilliya.

This behavior was something even Lilliya herself had noticed.

Generally speaking, tree spirits are a race known for being calm and detached, rarely having intense emotional fluctuations.

This is also the reason why many tree-man elders and sages have appeared among them; this mindset can be described as that of a natural recorder.

But looking at this tree spirit who was once taciturn, non-competitive, and could even be described as "Buddhist" in her approach to life.

Now she was being tormented by her own negative emotions, thereby giving birth to a strong desire for self-change.

He was somewhat surprised by the intensity of this emotion hidden within Ailan; the other party's performance at this moment was truly no different from a human's.

Ailan's leaves continued to write:

"I know my own limitations. As an ordinary tree spirit, the help I can provide is too limited. Miss Lilliya can take care of Dai'er, organize accounts, manage chores, and she has even learned to make petal candy..."

The tree spirit seemed to have expended a great deal of effort to write these words.

Her leaves paused for a moment, as if searching for a more accurate way to express herself:

"I see little Dai'er becoming stronger and stronger because of bloodline modulation, and I also hope to be able to..."

The leaves paused again, and in the end, only a few simple and direct words were written:

"... become more useful."

Luo En could read more meaning behind these few words:

A longing for a sense of belonging, a pursuit of a sense of value, and even an unspeakable jealousy and fear.

The tree spirit was afraid of being replaced, afraid of losing this "home" she had found with such difficulty.

"I understand..."

Luo En sighed softly; Ailan had indeed always been the most silent and hardworking member of the workshop, silently bearing countless trivial tasks without ever asking for any reward.

Subsequently, his tone became serious:

"You also know that bloodline modulation is a dangerous process, especially for a creature like you. The life structure of a tree spirit is complex and delicate, and unlike Dai'er, who is in her infancy, you have already grown to maturity, so modulation will only be more dangerous."

He paused, looking directly at Ailan:

"Moreover, a complete modulation means that you will be branded with my exclusive mark, just like Dai'er; this means that as long as I wish, your life will be completely controlled by me."

This was not just a warning, but also a test.

Luo En needed to confirm whether Ailan fully understood the depth and irreversibility of this connection.

This was also a characteristic inherent to the wizarding craft of bloodline modulation itself.

Therefore, after learning this, he had never again thought about buying "works" that had been completely modulated by other modulators.

Ailan's vines danced firmly, and the text on her leaves was deeper and more powerful than usual, as if generated with all her might:

"I fully understand and accept this, Master. In fact, I crave this connection."

Luo En was silent for a moment, beginning to calmly weigh the pros and cons in his heart.

From an objective perspective, the tree spirit's bloodline indeed possessed astonishing growth potential.

Ailan had previously shown signs of bloodline activation, as well as various human-like evolutions of her self.

Now, after confirmation through his "Extraordinary Identification" and "Trace Tracking" abilities, he confirmed that the tree spirit possessed the ancient bloodline of the "Forest Nymph," which was of Star Ring grade.

Once fully activated, she would possess the powerful ability to manipulate plants and communicate with the forest.

If this bloodline could be successfully activated, Ailan would achieve a qualitative leap, not only significantly enhancing the workshop's defensive capabilities but also serving as an aid in his more long-term plans.

More importantly, among all the creatures attached to him, Ailan's initial loyalty was the highest.

Unlike Dai'er's innocence and Lilliya's initial utilitarian considerations, Ailan's loyalty stemmed entirely from a pure sense of gratitude and identification.

This pure emotion, at this moment, had instead become the most solid connection.

"Alright, I will help you."

Luo En finally made his decision:

"I will design a step-by-step modulation plan to ensure the safety of the entire process. However, you must strictly follow my instructions; any minor deviation could lead to serious consequences."

Ailan's vines danced joyfully, like a child who had received a beloved toy, and a line of grateful handwriting appeared on her leaves:

"Thank you, Master. I will strictly follow every instruction."

Luo En activated his dual abilities of "Extraordinary Identification" and "Trace Tracking" to further investigate Ailan's bloodline status:

【Tree Spirit "Ailan"

Bloodline Origin:

Forest Nymph (Star Ring)

-> Golden Oak Queen (Quasi-Star Ring)

-> Ancient Tree Fairy (Gold Ring)

-> Ordinary Tree Spirit (Silver Ring)】

The Golden Oak Queen is a special plant legendarily enlightened by the Earth Mother herself, and then evolved step by step into a pure natural creature; they often possess the ability to rule the forest and communicate with all trees.

The Ancient Tree Fairy is a product of its diluted bloodline, still retaining the powerful ability to manipulate plants.

Perhaps there are other routes available for selection, but before "Trace Tracking" becomes an advanced trait, it can currently only see the evolutionary route most similar to the creature.

In the following days, Luo En devoted himself entirely to Ailan's bloodline modulation work.

The life essence of a tree spirit is completely different from other creatures, and conventional bloodline modulation methods are not applicable.

Luo En finally determined a three-stage plan:

The first stage is bloodline awakening, using special catalysts to activate the dormant bloodline within Ailan;

The second stage is energy reconstruction, guiding the activated bloodline energy to flow along specific paths to reshape the tree spirit's internal structure;

The third stage is complete transformation, allowing Ailan to enter a state similar to pupation to complete the final morphological change.

To implement this plan, Luo En collected various rare natural-attribute materials from the market:

Morning Dew Flower essence, capable of strengthening life force;

Sun Tree roots, containing a large amount of yang energy;

Light Crystal fragments, which help stabilize the flow of bloodline energy...

Each material was meticulously purified by Luo En and mixed according to a specific golden ratio of 1:3:7 to form a special bloodline enhancer tailored to the tree spirit's constitution.

When Luo En injected those precious material mixtures into the tree spirit's root system, her vines twisted in pain, and the edges of her leaves even showed signs of scorching...

When bloodline activation reached the tenth day, Luo En noticed a subtle change in Ailan's state.

Her energy fluctuations became unstable, her vines would wither and then swell, and the frequency of the runes on her leaves flickered faster and faster, as if signaling some major impending change.

"Master, I feel a calling."

Ailan's leaves wrote, the handwriting appearing and disappearing due to energy fluctuations:

"My bloodline is telling me that I need to enter a special dormant state to complete the final transformation."

Luo En immediately realized that this was the omen of the third stage—complete transformation.

In his research, a tree spirit needs to go through a complete "death and rebirth" process to truly awaken all its potential.

"Are you sure you want to enter the final stage now?"

Luo En asked cautiously: "Once it begins, it cannot be interrupted."

Ailan's vines danced firmly:

"Yes, Master. I can feel that the energy within me has reached a critical point; if I don't enter the transformation state as soon as possible, I will instead be injured due to energy overload."

After experimental testing, Luo En agreed to the other party's request.

Ailan chose a location in the center of the backyard, where the soil was deep, the sunlight was sufficient, and the underground water veins were rich, making it an ideal place for transformation.

When the last leaf had finished growing, the tree spirit's consciousness sank into slumber, and the final transformation process began.

Her appearance looked like an ordinary ancient tree, but Luo En knew that beneath that thick bark, a brand-new life was gestating.

………………

Recalling this, Luo En sighed softly, looking at the ancient tree before him, a flash of expectation in his eyes.

Through "Extraordinary Identification," he could perceive the astonishing energy potential contained within the tree.

Ailan's bloodline was evolving toward the Ancient Tree Fairy, or even the higher-level Golden Oak Queen.

"After Mother Ailan wakes up, will she become different?"

Dai'er asked, tilting her head, worry flickering in her purple-blue eyes:

"Will she... not recognize us anymore?"

Luo En sensed the little sea siren's anxiety and shook his head gently:

"Her appearance might change a little, but her heart will still be that Mother Ailan who loves you. The essence of the soul will not disappear because of a change in form, just like how you became stronger after eating so much 'special food,' but you are still our little Dai'er."

The little sea siren seemed to be comforted by this answer, nodding happily, and skipped toward the house:

"I'm going to draw a picture for Mother Ailan and give it to her when she wakes up!"

Luo En and Lilliya exchanged a glance, then turned toward the workshop together.

"Teacher, I have already organized today's accounts, but regarding that batch of Star Core Grass orders, I'm a bit unsure..."

Lilliya said, taking out a thick account book, her expression somewhat uncertain.

Ever since Ailan entered the transformation state, the daily operation of the workshop had fallen onto her shoulders.

Although her learning ability was astonishing, when faced with some matters that required experience to handle, she still appeared somewhat inadequate.

Luo En glanced at the account book and pointed out several places that needed modification:

"The pricing of Star Core Grass needs to take into account the lunar phase of the harvest; those harvested during a new moon are 30% more valuable than those harvested during a full moon. This batch was harvested during a waning gibbous phase, so the price should be 15% lower than the baseline, not 20%."

Lilliya earnestly noted down these points, but could not hide the exhaustion on her face.

Although she tried her best, handling the workshop's procurement, sales, inventory, and daily maintenance all at once was truly too heavy for someone who had just started learning.

"Sister Ailan was always able to arrange everything in an orderly manner."

Lilliya sighed and said in a low voice:

"I only just realized that she silently did so much work, never seeking attention, yet she made the entire workshop run like a precision clock. I have tried my best, but I still feel somewhat..."

Luo En nodded, and similar emotions welled up in his heart.

It was those seemingly insignificant daily tasks that formed the foundation of the workshop's operation.

Ailan never sought attention, yet she kept everything in perfect order; the value of this silent contribution is often only truly recognized when it is lost.

Just then, a sharp, shrill cry came from afar.

A large-beaked parrot flew into the courtyard, its feathers shimmering with vibrant colors in the sunlight; after circling a few times in the air, it landed on Luo En's extended arm.

"Master Luo En! Urgent news! Urgent news!"

The parrot squawked in an exaggerated tone; it was already very familiar with this young man.

(End of chapter)